Wednesday, September 13, 2006

16-Circles Square

I’ll put here some granny squares I designed. All of this began some 10 years ago, when I found the CrochetPartners mailgroup. Maybe it’s the bigger and older crochet list in the Internet.

Back then I joined the Friendship Granny Square Exchange — a swap of 6” worsted-weight yarn granny squares. American crocheters have lots of granny afghan books and patterns, but here in Brazil afghans aren’t a crochet tradition so new patterns are almost non-existant. Then I designed mine, or I would be restricted to the old traditional 3-dc blocks granny.

The square I’m posting today wasn’t the first one I designed — this one is from 1997 — but it’s the one I’m most proud of. The step-by-step pictures were made by my friend Vera Lucia Krauss, known in Brazilian crochet circles as Veralu49, senior crochet- and tricot-sorceress. Many many thanks, Veralu!!!! To make the unusual construction of the pattern more easily understandable, Veralu used different colors for each half-row, but each circle series is made with one and only color.

Remove hook from loop, insert hook in the last stitch of the beginning chain (that is now the "head" of the first dc of the first dc group), 12 dc in the same st of the previous 3 dc.

Now you work in the other side of the chain, inserting the hook in the same stitches of the first half-row. Where you made a slip stitch, you will make a new slip stitch inserting the hook through the chain AND the first slip stich.

So, make #ss in the next ss, 11dc in the next 3dc-group#, repeat from # to # three times more, close with a ss, finish off.

2nd row (12 circles):

With color 2, chain 70.

In the 4th chain from hook, *3dc in the same st (a quarter circle made); skip 2 st, 1 ss, skip 2 st, 3 dc in the next st, remove hook from loop, insert it in the 4th dc of the upper left circle of the first row, 4dc in the same stitch you made the previous 3dc (1 half-circle made), skip two base chains, ss, skip two st; make another half-circle, joining it to the second circle of the first row, skip 2 st, ss, skip 2 st*; repeat from * to * three times more, making the last ss in the first quarter circle.

Make 8 dc in the same st you made the previous 3 dc to complete a circle; go on making 7 dc in each half-circle, ss in the ss of the previous half-row (remember to always insert the hook through the ss AND the ch of the previous half-row) and 11 dc at the corners (you will end up with four color 1 circles surrounded by 12 color 2 circles).

Last row:

With color 3, fix the yarn to the 4th stitch of one of the external circles, 5ch, skip 3 dc of the same circle, sc in the next st, 5 ch, sc in the fourth dc of the next circle, 5ch, and keep working this way (making 2 sc with a 5-ch loop in-between in the corners) until you make all the way round. Then make a dc row, with 2dc, 2ch, 2dc at the corners.

I love this square.

There are some videos made by the amazing Brazilian crochet teacher Elaine Tripiano. She talks in Portuguese and if it sounds confusing to you please turn off the sound and watch what she's doing.

What a lovely square.Never seen something like this before and I have been crocheting for more than 35 years.Thank you for sharing the pattern.This will make a perfect gift for my friend to give at her house warming party.I will make it bigger and make cushion covers.Thankyou once again for sharing the lovely pattern.Sandhya from India

I love the square... circles in square. Love it... going to be one of my projects one day...Got to many projects got to finish up first...I love to crochet been doing it 39 years & counting ...Probably will make it bigger tho. Thanks for posting the round circles in sqaures. going to do your valetines heart too. Love it!

sunnywolfgar--also known as Terry Devinecrochetier 39 years & counting...

Hi... I'm from Kingdom of Bahrain... and i like your work .. i hope to be like you... some symbols are defecult for me.. and i can't do it -_-...i want to learn more and more ..so please help me ..your daughter... Naseem

Yes, a 6-inches square - I created it for a 6"-square swap... But our yarns here in Brazil are thinner than American yarns, so our medium-weight yarn is nearer to sport-weight than to worsted. And I used a 4 mm (F? G?) hook.

Thank you for the lovely pattern. I was searching for a pattern that would utilize my leftover yarn, and this is just perfect. Very tired of the traditional"granny" squares.This pattern reminds me of an old quilt pattern called The Yo-Yo,and I think I am going to attempt to make one using your squares.Again, thank you for for generously sharing your talent!

What an pretty pattern and very easy to do once you start. I have made a baby blanket by continuing to add 48 chain stiches to each addition row. Thanks for the demonstration pictures, it made it so much easier to learn.

the square is really great and different. Only thing that I had a hard time with was the light color on a light backround. Should have used a different color instead of the beige color on a light backround. Could have used like gold, blue, red(pink?). I have found out this the hard way, also. Beige is not a good color to use in photo showing progress of work. Otherwise, I will try to see and make this for my organization that makes baby blankets for sick children and babies that have passed away.

I tried this tonight and love it! If I wanted to add rows to this, do you know how many you would have to chain for a third round of cirlces? A fourth? Since this does remind me of an old quilt pattern, I would love to make this for a table runner crocheting strips of fabric instead of yarn. Thank you for a lovely pattern. You are indeed talented! :)

I love this pattern! I've used it as a 6 inch square for an afghan, now I've made a giant one for a baby blanket - if you are on Ravelry you can see it, http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Nemosyn/16-circles-square

I have put a few variations in my notes, about making bigger squares, I hope that's ok.

Have just found this and made it straight away. I am currently making afghans for my 3 girls. each square HAS to be different, thats the challenge. Have completed one and it looks amazing. Claire will be the lucky girl to get this wonderful square in hers.. Its amazing thankyou!!

Found this via crochetpatterncentral.com and when I first "looked" I was sure it was a bunch of the circle beginnings of a granny square sewed together (heard them called granny's daughters. Boy was I surprised to see differently. Loved that "something different". I immediately got out some scraps and tried it. Thanks for sharing.

Please explain why you stated 12 dc here:Remove hook from loop, insert hook in the last stitch of the beginning chain (that is now the "head" of the first dc of the first dc group), 12 dc in the same st of the previous 3 dc.

while just 11 dc here:So, make #ss in the next ss, 11dc in the next 3dc-group#, repeat from # to # three times more, close with a ss, finish off.

This is a beautiful pattern, but I am somewhat confused with the directions. I tried making this last night and I reckon I'm doing something wrong b/c it did not turn out right. Is there an email address or something that I can email for clarification?

I'm one of the Editors at http://www.allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/ and I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your site. I think it's a great website with plenty of projects that our readers will just love to make.

We would love to add some of your projects to our site, so feel free to let us know as you add or create projects. We are always looking for afghan projects as well as other projects so if you have any of these please feel free to send them my way or let us know if you prefer we not link to you. We also feature projects from our website on our blogs, eBooks and e-mail newsletters.

Your projects are great and we know our readers will enjoy it. With that said, can we have permission to link to any project on your site as well as use the image? This will easily bring traffic to your site and allow others to see what's new on your site. We will credit you, of course.

I AM SO GLAD THAT PAIN HAS STOPED ME FROM SLEEPING. I DECIDED TO CHECK MY EMAILS AND THERE WAS THE EMAIL NEWS LETTER. OH BOY MATE THIS IS SO LOVERLY I HAVE BEEN PUTTING PASTEL COLOURS TO GETHER IT WILL LOOK SO GEORGES WHEN IT IS FINISHED DELICATE PURE JUST LIKE A NEW BOURN BABY. I LOVE YOUR PATTERNS AND I CAN TELL YOU I WOULD BE SO HONERED IF I COULD COME FROM DOWN UNDER TO MEET YOU AND TELL YOU PERSONALLY YOU ARE SO CLEVER MATE, YOU INSPIRE SO MANY PEOPLE TO PICK UP THERE CROCHET HOOKS START WORKING. THANK YOU SO MUCH HALENZE YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPERATION TO ALL LADIES AND MEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.FROM A NEW FRIEND IN AUSTRALIA. GOOD ON YOU MATE.

Love this! I'm having a problem though - the chain in the centre of my circles pulls the next chains tight so I end up with a donut instead of a solid circle. I've tried making really tight chains but it doesn't help. And my do nuts aren't coming out as properly round. They're more eye shaped. Do you have any suggestions?

Hmmm... make your chains tight and don't pull the dc's when you're making them, maybe. I crochet and knit lightly, I don't pull the yarn as much as I've seen lots of people do in youtube videos, so maybe that's why mine don't end up as donuts.

love, love, love this pattern. i have been working on it for almost an hour and i cant figure it out though. please, please contact me and help me through this. i would greatly appreciate it. frustrated in west virginia

Twilson,I would love to help you as it is such an easy pattern really, just different. if you would like to contact me at gloria.rabbitwarren@gmail.com after 14th February 2013 ( as I am on holidays) I will be glad to help you with this pattern. RegardsGloria

You can find amazing videos from the Brazilian crochet teacher Elaine Tripiano (in 4 parts) here:http://youtu.be/4Pvw9rDubwUhttp://youtu.be/cCZcwoGazy4http://youtu.be/o4UkppOqdMchttp://youtu.be/_um4jJ6C3L0They're in Portuguese but you can always turn off the sound if it disturbs you.

hello, 1 square measures 6 1/2 inches or 17 cms . Done with 8ply acrylic and a 4mm hook. You can get 6 squares from 100 grms. Measure how wide and how long you want your rug to be and you should be able to work it out. If not send me your measurements and I will do it for you. Good luck it is a beautiful pattern.

I modified your design into a triangle to make the "icing" for my cupcake blanket. It looks amazing. Why 8 dcs in first half circle, but 7 dcs in the rest? Also 12 dcs in first quarter circle, but 11 in the rest?

For these examples I used Familia or Mollett yarns (roughly a thick DK or a thin worsted) and a 4 mm hook. But surely your yarns are different from ours here in Brazil; and every crocheter has a different tension. So my advice is: try it with your yarns and your hooks and use what you like best.

Thanks awfully for this beautiful variation using circles to create a granny square. We are blessed to have craftspersons like yourself who share their gift to teach others for free. You are a true mentor and again, thanks awfully. Jo, dual citizen Australia &New Zealand

Thank you, Belinda. But be warned: I didn't translated this pattern from any site. It's a pattern of mine, from the last century - and I have pictures to prove it, pictures from 1998! I think the Russian site translated my post into Russian...